Some help for a new mod

[Daevorn]

Hello,

I have some question for you, Masters.
I want to make a new mod, with these features:

1. focused on multiplayer
2. Only three faction to choose
3. unit for each faction are choosen by me; i mean i want something like to give camel to russian http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
4. i want to change stats
5. i want to make something like barocca's stw mod: i mean, i would like to play normal mp games without restarting etc etc

What i did:
1. i read your guides http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
2. i made a starpost file... but the guide ended too early http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

what i have to do now?
i change the crusader unit prod, but how can i make to different unit prod files?
if a make a daevorn_unit_prod.txt the game crashes...
what do i have to change in starpost file for being able that it reads my new unit_prod file?

thanks

Daevorn

[Lord Of Storms]

Quote[/b] (Daevorn @ Dec. 05 2003,14:41)]Hello,

I have some question for you, Masters.
I want to make a new mod, with these features:

1. focused on multiplayer
2. Only three faction to choose
3. unit for each faction are choosen by me; i mean i want something like to give camel to russian http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
4. i want to change stats
5. i want to make something like barocca's stw mod: i mean, i would like to play normal mp games without restarting etc etc

What i did:
1. i read your guides http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
2. i made a starpost file... but the guide ended too early http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

what i have to do now?
i change the crusader unit prod, but how can i make to different unit prod files?
if a make a daevorn_unit_prod.txt the game crashes...
what do i have to change in starpost file for being able that it reads my new unit_prod file?

thanks

Daevorn
Greetings Daevorn, I would suggest you get a utlity most of the modders here at the org use to help edit prod files its called The Gnome Editor and you can get it here on the org's download page.
1= focused on multiplayer,thats no problem just means whoever you want to play the mod online will have to have the same mod files as you do.
2=you will have a problem here I beleieve there is a 7 faction minimum or the game crashes
3=this is done through edits in the prod files, use gnome editor here.it lays the files out in an easy to edit format and most of the columns are pretty easy to figure out.
experimentation is a key to modding, and a good way to learn.
ok so you say you have made a startpos/mod txt file thats step 1.
OK I am assuming you have MTW VI?
so to declare your prod files in startpos follow the file heading example:

//=======================================
//production files to be used for this
//startpos
//=======================================
//NOTES
// ProdFile - allows you to specify the production files for this startpos
// usage: Prodfile::
// where = UNITPROD or BUILDINGPROD
// = name of prod file, including file extension.
// example:
// Prodfiles:: UNITPROD "TargetsUnits.txt" BUILDINGPROD "TargetsBuildings.txt"
//
//all Prodfiles must be stored in the Medieval root folder

Prodfiles:: UNITPROD "vikings_unit_prod.txt" BUILDINGPROD "vikings_build_prod.txt"
And be sure to back up all original files before making any changes, and when making your changes its a safe practice to make 1 or 2 changes then start up MTW and make sure your mod shows on the period select screen (be sure to scroll down&#33http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif and that the changes you made had the desired effect, this is safer then making all your changes and then trying to start the game only to find it does not start or does not show on the period select screen, I hope this helped somewhat...LOS

[Daevorn]

Thank you LOS, you are very helpful to new modders:)

now, i have gnome editor ( very useful&#33http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif, i change my unit prod file, i copy and paste what you wrote aobve, but nothing change

I would like to give to every unit 60 men (for first step), here what i made in starpos

//=======================================
//production files to be used for this
//startpos
//=======================================
//NOTES
// ProdFile - allows you to specify the production files for this startpos
// usage: Prodfile::
// where = UNITPROD or BUILDINGPROD
// = name of prod file, including file extension.
// example:
// Prodfiles:: UNITPROD "TargetsUnits.txt" BUILDINGPROD "TargetsBuildings.txt"
//
//all Prodfiles must be stored in the Medieval root folder

Prodfiles:: UNITPROD "XXX_unit_prod.txt" BUILDINGPROD "XXX_build_prod.txt"

i put my vikings_unit_prod changed (named XXX) there...

when i go to select a battle, everything is ok, but when i come to select units, they are not changed
they are 60 men, 40 men, 100 men...

first and the final part of my startpos is the same as the one posted in the guide above...i would like to change only unit's stats

cheers

Daevorn

[Daevorn]

wow, i resolved this one by myself http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif

now i have my new era with my new stats (step by step eheh) if i send the starpos and the new unit&prod files to a clanm8, can we play mp games?
this afternoon i tried to send him a modded crusader_unit_prod file, he copied it on his mtw folder, but we cannot play mp games due "conflict version etc etc"

[Lord Of Storms]

My MP experience is limited, but I know you must have all the same matching files, so if you sent him only a prod file where there not any other files involved? is this VI? the prod file would need to be declared in the startpos, check all this out and give me a bit more info, I will help where I can...LOS

[Daevorn]

Ty LOS

i have a question:
how can i "bind" a unit to a specific faction?
I would like, for example, to give chiv knights only to 3 specific faction, is it possible?
Do i have to change my mod_build_prod file?
or in the starpos (and where?)?

( i hope this won't involve build stats... i wouldlike to give feudal men at arms to some faction and chiv men at arms toother factions...)

Bye

[dessa14]

it is in the unitprod file and it is under faction specific and you change it to Example:FN_FRENCH, FN_ENGLISH, FN_HRE
get the picture.
thanks dessa

[Daevorn]

i imagined this, but in viking invasion the are not FN_english FN_italian but FN_01, FN_02 etc etc

the whole story it's more comlicated also because this FN_0X are binded to factions in a not logical way...
for example, billmen and kern are in FN_01, and this is ok (i supposed 01 is English...), but Militia Sergants are only in FN_03
What does this mean?
English can use MS....

[Lord Of Storms]

Quote[/b] (Daevorn @ Dec. 08 2003,14:14)]Ty LOS

i have a question:
how can i "bind" a unit to a specific faction?
I would like, for example, to give chiv knights only to 3 specific faction, is it possible?
Do i have to change my mod_build_prod file?
or in the starpos (and where?)?

( i hope this won't involve build stats... i wouldlike to give feudal men at arms to some faction and chiv men at arms toother factions...)

Bye
Ciao Daevorn, yes you will have to make the changes in your Unit Prod file, first find the label for the faction you wish to assign the unit to i.e. FN_01 etc. then put those labels in the faction association column in Gnome editor, and you should be fine...LOS

[dessa14]

you are editing the Viking Prod file 03 must be mercia if you enter the crusader prod file you will find that factions are propely named.
(CA must of been lazy when they made the viking era)
thanks dessa

[Skomatth]

Hey daevorn i did pretty much the same thing u did a couple months ago, if you have msn I'll help u there, my email's available at the kenchi site.

[CBR]

Sounds like you are editing the viking unit prod file as that uses FN-XX. Its much easier to edit the crusader prod file.

But otherwise ask Sko, I teached him well http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif


CBR

[Skomatth]

Or you could go straight to the source and ask cbr or LoS who taught me http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Daevorn]

thank you m8s http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

well, my big problem is that i already uesd crusader unit prod, but i have a CTD when i launch the .exe...
i think something messed up with crusader build prod...

the problem is that i would like to add, for example, fmaa to russian... do i have to change also build prod file, adding swordery to that faction?

*runs to kenchi's site* http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[CBR]

You only need to edit the unit prod file. The build prod file can just be a copy of the original (with new name of course) Do you get some kind of error message when MTW starts up?


CBR

[Daevorn]

yes, i get this error:" unknown faction specified: column 20, row 8
EGYPTIAN"

i checked the build prod file and column 20 row 8 is GUNSMITH, egyptian...

now, in my startpos i set only 9 faction,

//========================================
//Active Factions
//which factions are to appear in the game
//and which of these factions are playable
//========================================
SetActiveFaction:: FN_ALMOHAD FT_MAJOR
SetActiveFaction:: FN_EGYPTIAN FT_MAJOR
SetActiveFaction:: FN_ENGLISH FT_MAJOR
SetActiveFaction:: FN_GERMAN_HRE FT_MAJOR
SetActiveFaction:: FN_ITALIAN FT_MAJOR
SetActiveFaction:: FN_POLISH FT_MAJOR
SetActiveFaction:: FN_RUSSIAN FT_MAJOR
SetActiveFaction:: FN_TURKISH FT_MAJOR

SetActiveFaction:: FN_HUNGARIAN FT_MAJOR

//*SetActiveFaction:: FN_ARAGONESE FT_MINOR
//SetActiveFaction:: FN_BURGUNDIAN FT_MINOR
//SetActiveFaction:: FN_GOLDEN_HORDE FT_MINOR
//*SetActiveFaction:: FN_HUNGARIAN FT_MINOR
SetActiveFaction:: FN_PAPIST FT_MINOR
//*SetActiveFaction:: FN_SICILIAN FT_MINOR
//SetActiveFaction:: FN_NOVGOROD FT_MINOR

this is the only change i made (expept the first one, like setting "true", "false" according to the dungeon's guide) in starpos...

in unit prod file (crusader, it is simpler as you told me http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/flirt.gif )i just binded units to specific faction..

well, after the error message, i just delete that field http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif but i received anotehr message: "too few strings found in element data column3, data row 41 salt mine complex"

ehm, i deleted also that field http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif but i received the same error, but with data row 40.... till the end of the rows...

cheers

[CBR]

Hm faction name should be FN_EGYPTIAN, did you by any chance only type EGYPTIAN?

And dont mess with the build prod, you dont need changes there at all. Only do the unit prod.


CBR

[Daevorn]

i only changed unit prod file...

i used crusader unit\ build prod, i modded my daevorn_unit_prod with gnome editro, i loaded in GEditor crusader_buil_prod and without any change i saved it as daevorn_buil_prod...

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

[[DnC]]

It could be that the game is looking for "CRUSADER_BUILD_PROD13.txt", but since you changed it it cannot find it, thus maybe causing the error?
Change the name back to "CRUSADER_BUILD_PROD13" (without the "'s). Make sure there is also a "CRUSADERS_UNIT_PROD11.txt".

Copy and paste the "CRUSADER_BUILD_PROD13.txt" in another folder. Rename it to what you want it to be named. Copy and paste it back in the original directory.

Also make sure that there is an era which loads the build prod and unit prod file. Go to "Medieval - Total War (main directory) > campmap > startpos", then copy for instance the "EARLY.txt". Again paste it in another folder, rename it and copy paste it back to the "startpos" folder. Make sure your new era file refers to your new unit prod and build prod files, thus loading them with that particular era.


I've seen a lot of errors mentioned by the game when starting it that weren't even correct though.

Make sure that there aren't any excessary (right word? - overbundend/t? - excuse my limited English vocabulary) spaces. E.g. the last column you see using Gnome editor stating; Mercenary (YES/NO)/MP Era/MP Faction association have been my problem when first starting modding the unit prod file. When clicking it I could see a lot of excessary spaces that caused the problem. You can easily copy the text of that column from another unit and then editing it to your own need. Or you can just delete all those spaces that shouldn't be there, but make sure that you don't delete any tabs. Note that this is only an example.

Hope I could have helped.

[Daevorn]

i letf original files in folder m8 http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

viking unit prod is different form crusader one, so maybe gnome editor needs a "patch", as pointed DnC...

well, seems that i NEED to change build prod http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

CBR, did you make something similar in your mod?
why do i had this errors?

Cheers

[CBR]

Well I have made mods doing the same type of changes like you plan to do and build prod doesnt need changes at all.

But I do know that gnomeeditor can be annoying sometimes, especially with that last column that actually is 3 columns and any small mistake with tabs and MTW comes up with errors when starting up.

If you want, you can send what you have to me (cbr@os.dk) and I can take a look at it. If you have MSN or ICQ you can always add me.


CBR